Gritty Cedar Rapids Prairie upends Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 3-2

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids Prairie Coach Todd Rima reminded his players to study for final exams.

He also advised them on how to do it.

'Study with a smile on your faces,' Rima told the Hawks after their hard-fought 3-2 victory over host Cedar Rapids Jefferson Monday night in the quarterfinal of the Bob Vrbicek Metro baseball tournament.

The Hawks received strong pitching from starter Jared Street and reliever Tyler Nunemaker and scratched out three runs in the top of the fifth, spoiling a night many, including Major League scouts, came to watch the J-Hawks' Spencer Van Scoyoc.

'They fought,' Rima said of the Hawks. 'I told them early in the game that we weren't scoring or getting hits but we were going deep into counts against him. We were having really good at-bats and I couldn't be any more proud of them.'

Even in the fifth, the means weren't flashy but they were effective. Cooper Reittinger opened with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Levi Usher hit a hopper to shortstop that was booted. Alex Mixon put Prairie on the board with an RBI groundout to second.

After a groundout, Blake Viall drew a walk. Prairie continued its aggressive baserunning that resulted in a pick off and caught stealing to end the first two innings. Van Scoyoc attempted to pick off Viall but the first baseman misplayed the throw that allowed Usher to score the tying run and Viall to third.

Leadoff batter Ethan Copeland stepped to the plate for the fourth time. He demonstrated the gritty and tough demeanor that Rima wants from this year's team. Copeland fouled off a few pitches, rapping a grounder between first and second.

'I was just trying to battle off tough pitches,' Copeland said. 'He was throwing me good curveballs and high fastballs.

'I was looking for a pitch I could handle and get that run in.'

Despite Tyler Roeder's diving stop, Copeland hustled down the line from contact. He beat it easily and drove in the eventual winning run.

'I was trying to make it so there was no play,' Copeland said. 'I just tried to get there.'

Van Scoyoc pitched well, allowing just two hits without an earned run in 4 2/3 innings.

'That was a great win,' Rima said. 'We just faced one of the best pitchers in the country. He's a tremendous talent.

'I hope everybody in the Metro realizes what we get to watch when he's out here and enjoy him as much as we can.'

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Three runs were enough thanks to Street and Nunemaker, who Rima praised for their effort so early in the year. Street overcame a rocky start, giving up a long home run to right field to Van Scoyoc, leading off the bottom of the first. He also surrendered an RBI double to Jared Eivins, who drove in Zeb Render, in the second.

'He found his breaking ball and I found his velocity got better as the game went on,' Rima said. 'He could throw any pitch on any count.

'He kept them off balance and that's a great offensive team.'

Nunemaker threw two shutout innings in relief. He retired the first five batters he faced, striking out four.

'My defense had my back,' Nunemaker said. 'My main job was to get the ball across the plate.'

Jefferson did rally in the seventh, loading the bases on base hits from Eivins and Manny Olutunde. Van Scoyoc was intentionally walked, putting the winning run in scoring position. Rima visited Nunemaker, but stayed with him.

'He just told me to relax,' Nunemaker said. 'Ignore my surroundings and focus on pitching. I just needed a break to calm myself down.'

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Rima and Copeland said the Hawks are fighters and will have to battle for everything they earn. In the long run, this was one win — a great win — but a long season and lots of work remains.

'This win doesn't define who we are,' Rima said. 'We have a long ways to go. We have to continue to make big improvements, but that is a really good start.'

Prairie (1-0) will face Cedar Rapids Washington (1-0) in the semifinal at Jefferson Tuesday, starting at 7 p.m. Jefferson (0-1) will face Cedar Rapids Xavier (0-1) at 5 p.m.

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